Glitter

It's the week before Christmas and all through the house

Everything sparkles, our noses, the dog and even the couch.

Glitter is everywhere and so are the sprinkles

The lights here in Texas, oh, how they twinkle....

Here is a glimpse of what we have been up to this week!

We made these delicious sugar cookies and took them along for our annual Christmas light tour.  We taped the tickets to the bathroom mirror and told the kids to wash their hands and face after dinner.  They found the tickets and lots of squealing ensued.  So we were off to see some synchronized lights in Katy!  This is one of the houses we saw that night:

We made chocolate covered pretzels for our church Christmas party....very easy and fun for the kids to make.  I made chocolates when I was little with my aunt and cousins and I am so happy to be carrying it on with my own kids.  

We made Sugarplums and gave those to friends this week.  

The kids spent two days around the dining room table making Christmas cards which included the use of glitter.  Either you love it or you hate it.  If you hate it, you send it to Texas with your friend when she moves there.  We love it...especially Maleiah and if you know her, this is no surprise.  We had glitter from our friend Sarah and we had glitter from Grandma Carol...altogether this made for lots of sparkle, everywhere.  

There is still much more to be made.  Cookies, shortbread, pies and gifts.  Pajamas are being sewn {most likely late into Christmas Eve} and the cutest magnetic paper dolls are being made this week too!  I can't wait to show you all!  More to come, SOON!

Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

I made these yummy biscuits for Christmas dinner at my in-laws house. My father-in-law said he wanted some biscuits and requested something along the lines of the Pillsbury type. I found these on Recipe Zaar and they worked out great! We even had a few in the morning with our breakfast casserole and fruit salad. :)

Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the board (if you can get White Lily flour, your biscuits will be even better)


• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda


• 1 tablespoon baking powder (use one without aluminum)


• 1 teaspoon kosher salt or salt


• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, very cold


• 3/4 cup buttermilk (approx.)
  

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F.


2. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl, or in the bowl of a food processor.


3. Cut the butter into chunks and cut into the flour until it resembles course meal.


4. If using a food processor, just pulse a few times until this consistency is achieved.


5. Add the buttermilk and mix JUST until combined.


6. If it appears on the dry side, add a bit more buttermilk.


7. Turn the dough out onto a floured board.


8. Gently, gently PAT (do NOT roll with a rolling pin) the dough out until it's about 1/2" thick.


9. Use a round cutter to cut into rounds.


10. You can gently knead the scraps together and make a few more, but they will not be anywhere near as good as the first ones.


11. Place the biscuits on a cookie sheet- if you like soft sides, put them touching each other.
    If you like"crusty" sides, put them about 1 inch apart- these will not rise as high as the biscuits put close together.


12. Bake for about 10-12 minutes- the biscuits will be a beautiful light golden brown on top and bottom.


13. Do not overbake.
    

Notes: The key to real biscuits is not in the ingredients, but in the handling of the dough. The dough must be handled as little as possible or you will have tough biscuits. I have found that a food processor produces superior biscuits, because the ingredients stay colder and there's less chance of overmixing.

You also must pat the dough out with your hands, lightly.

Rolling with a rolling pin is a guaranteed way to overstimulate the gluten, resulting in a tougher biscuit. You can make these biscuits, cut them, put them on cookie sheets and freeze them for up to a month. When you want fresh biscuits, simply place them frozen on the cookie sheet and bake at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Smoothies

My new favorite thing is smoothies! Here are a few of my favorites...

PB Chanana Smoothie

• Chocolate Soy Milk 1 cup
• 1 banana
• 1-2 Tbsp peanut butter(no salt!)
• ice

Vanilla Soy Fruity

• Vanilla Soy Milk 1 cup
• 1 banana
• Frozen Strawberries 1 cup
• Wheat Germ 2-3 Tbsp.

I make extra and pour it into popsicle molds and the kids love them for a treat. We will be doing lots of these this summer and I am sure we will make new flavors too.

Apparently they are cool as light sabers, swords and the like...

She looks pretty happy, this is her first popsicle...

Want some?

December Menu

Sticky Sesame Chicken, Broccoli and Rice
Spanish Chicken & Rice Wraps
Pita Pizza & Salad~2
Meatloaf, Lemon Pepper Carrots and Salad
Asian Hoisin Ribs & Rice
Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl~2
Turkey Pot Pie & Salad~2
Chicken Lasagna, Bread & Salad
Corn Chowder, Bread and Salad
Turkey Soup
Tuna Casserole & Salad
Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese
Chicken Stir-Fry & Rice
Spaghetti with Meatballs, Salad & Rosemary Bread
Pancakes & Fruit
Chili & Cornbread
Zesty Chicken & Potatoes with Salad
Chimichangas, Mexican Rice & Salad
Christmas Dinner: Ham, green bean casserole, stuffing, potatoes and rolls.

The ham will give us leftovers for sandwiches, Farmers Breakfast Casserole & for freezing. I will post links to recipes that I have.

Turkey Soup

iI baked a turkey yesterday and amd using the meat for various recipes...Here is one I modified from 2 other recipes...

Turkey Soup

• 2 quarts chicken broth
• 1 cup rice
• 2 cups cooked turkey meat cut into small pieces
• 1 cup sliced carrots
• 1 cup diced celery
• 1 packet Good Season Italian Dressing Mix

◊Put broth and rice in a large stockpot. Bring to a boil and then add all ingredients and simmer until veggies are tender.

◊Serve with bread and a salad...yum!

Thanksgiving Already?

We are hosting Thanksgiving here this year for my in-laws. We hosted my parents last year right after Maleiah was born so this year I get the in-laws. It will be a fun time and I am very excited about trying some new recipes and a few crafts.



Have you ever heard of brining the turkey? Totally new to me but I think I may try it. Here is the recipe I will be trying...

Turkey Brine

Also on the Menu...

Herbed Turkey
Garlic Roasted Mashed Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
Fluffy Biscuits
Stuffing (NOT Stove-Top this year!)
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie

Look at these cute Oreo Turkeys! I am making them too.

November Menu

We are officially entering the world of Once a Month Cooking, kind of....we will be making a lot of meals and freezing them but there will still be some fresh cooking.



(# of meals/Freezer)

• Chicken Pot Pie (2/F) & Salad
• Pizza Roll-Ups (2/F) & Salad
• Chicken Tortilla Soup (2/F)
• Tuna Noodle Casserole (F) & Salad
• Sticky Sesame Chicken, Broccoli & Rice
• Brisket (for Fajitas) (2/F) Corn & Salad
• Chicken Packets (F) Lemon Pepper Carrots and Salad
• Macaroni & Cheese & Salad
• Chili (F)& Cornbread
• Spaghetti & Meatballs, Rosemary Bread & Salad
• Meatloaf (3/F) Roasted Veggies and Salad
• Spanish Chicken & Rice Wraps (2/F)
• BBQ Turkey Joe's, Fried and Fruit
• Taco Soup (F)
• Asian Hoisin Ribs, Broccoli & Rice
• Thai Turkey Pasta
• Chicken & Chile Chimichangas & Salad
• Salmon, Rice Pilaf and Salad
• Thanksgiving Dinner
• Turkey Soup(using leftovers) (F)
• Tamales(purchased from a friend:))
• Sweet Salsa Dump Chicken (F)

**Crock Pot Chicken for Shredding (use for chimichangas, Thai turkey pasta and chicken packets)


These meals will actually take us into December most likely, especially when I consider the leftover Turkey from Thanksgiving. I plan on getting 2 Turkeys so we will see! Also, some of the meals can be used for lunches as well or to help others. This is the first time we have done this and I am very excited about having my freezer full!


Other meals that will go in the freezer are...

• Farmers Breakfast Casserole
• Power Sticks
• Mom's Chicken Nuggets
• Apple Pie Filling
• Cookie Dough

***I will post more links to recipes***

Menu Planning

What's for dinner?

Most of the time I know this answer and we have a healthy dinner. Sometimes the day gets away from me and ordering out is the nicest thing I can do for my family but no the most economical. We have stopped eating out significantly and I have stopped my drive-thru visits for lunch. We have buckled down quite a bit and that came from menu planning.

I began by making just a menu for the dinner during the week and then made my grocery list accordingly, using what we already have on hand as much as possible. I have tried to find recipes that match the ones that we enjoy when we eat out and that has been fun. I also have tried to find recipes to replace any convenience foods we eat. This has been fun too!

Next, I decided to move into planning Breakfast, Lunch and Snacks. This also helped in using what we have already in the pantry. (I will post my menu later:))

Earlier in the year I was looking for a recipe software program that would take all my own recipes along with ones that I get online, make a menu and shopping list. I found it in Big Oven. I am able to input all my own recipes, have access to tons of recipes from there own website and import recipes from other online locations. With this I can create a menu that includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Snacks. Then I can go through and create a grocery list.

We are trying our hand at freezer meals and in the last month I have doubled many recipes and having a meal in the freezer was a lifesaver on the days that were more hectic. So I am using this software to better plan this new adventure. I am streamlining our recipes, finding what will freeze and what won't and looking for further ways to cut expenses but save time as well. It has been fun and I hope to share more specifics as I learn more!

Happy Menu Planning!